Category Archives: Technical

Q: I just purchased an ‘88 Mazda 323 and installed the engine and transmission, I cannot get a spark to the plugs.. I have checked all the fuses, I have every thing hooked up. What are some things to check?

Rob

A: It could be no current to the ECU, the crank position sensor not working, or a bad coil pack. Each can be checked individual if you bring them in to auto shop.

Bob

Q: How much will it cost me to replace the suspension on Mazda CX-9? My car stopped on the road last night, had to tow it with a flat bed truck as the wheel was kind of coming out of the car, no chance to push it to the curb even, car wouldn’t move back or forth. Wondering how much the damage will be.

Maria

A: You didn’t list what broke. Let us guess. A lower ball joint broke and the CV-joint pulled out of the side of the transmission. If the lower A-frame didn’t tear loose from the flimsy sub-frame it will still cost a small fortune to fix. Hopefully the car is sitting at a Mazda door step so they can check the suspension pieces.

Roy

Q: The latest water trick from my 2006 MX-5 Miata is whenever it rains the trunk fills with water. I have identified the leak. It’s coming from where the rear of the soft top where it seals to the rear of the car. There seems to be a wiper seal that will divert the water to the interior drains behind the seats. Is there a adjustment I can make?

Morris

A: If you are talking about the black plastic trim that’s visible from outside the car, that’s not a seal. It’s there to keep the edge of the sheet metal and soft top from chafing against each other. There’s a rain rail / gutter system that collects whatever gets around the back edge of the soft top. The rain rail then carries any water to the drains you have already discovered. It’s a pain to get to the rain rail, as it requires removing the “parcel shelf” where the top sits when it is lowered. My guess is the rain rail is cracked.